Ranginui Walker, Ngāti Patumoana, Waiaua Marae, 1932-2016

In October 2003, Ranginui Walker wrote one of his most powerful columns for the NZ Listener, titled “Dear Crown by Ranginui Walker: An Open Letter to Helen, Bill, Richard, Peter, Jeanette and Jim”. It followed his concern over the foreshore and seabed debate and begins:

“I have been here a thousand years. You arrived only yesterday.” And ends:

Bradie Paul

Ngā mihi to Bradie Paul for sending us her mihi – we’re delighted and proud to share it with you here.
We’d love to get mihi from all our Whakatōhea whānau – how about posting them to our Facebook page or to Instagram using the #IAMWhakatōhea tag?

Moana Edwardson, Ngai Tamahaua

My name is Moana Tinitia Edwardson (nee Farrar). My mother was born and raised in Te Whakatōhea, my grandparents also, and their ancestors’ before them. Te Whakatōhea, Ngai-Tamahaua, runs through my blood.

I was born in my father’s hometown of Tokoroa and at the age of 2 moved to Orima, 19km east of Te Kaha.

I lived here for majority of my childhood, enjoying the freedoms of spending majority of my childhood outdoors – swimming at our local swimming hole, fishing with my dad, diving with my brothers, collecting pinecones for the fire and helping to grow vegetables in my parent’s garden – learning a lot of vital skills a lot of people my age don’t have.

Manaaki Denton Biddle Tai, Ngai Tamahaua, Ngāti Rua and Ngāti Ira

I was born and raised by the grace of God in little big Ōpōtiki. My current Mahi is a Utility for Compass Group working Fly in Fly out which means I do all sorts from housekeeping to admin, bartending to kitchen hand and more.
My aspiration for Te Whakatōhea is for our people to care more for our tamariki…

Emerald Mary Muriwai McPhee, Ngāti Ira, Ngai Tamahaua

Kia ora Whakatōhea whānau,

My name is Emerald Mary Muriwai McPhee. My dad grew up in Ōpōtiki and has lived most of his life up here in Auckland. We are from Ngāti Ira and Ngai Tamahaua on my dad’s side. On my mum’s side, we are Irish/Pākehā. I have two sisters, Esme and Angie and two nephews, Izrael and Hendrix.

I grew up in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), spending most of my life in West Auckland and visiting Ōpōtiki for the first time just after leaving high school. Growing up as an urban Māori I had limited opportunities to explore my māoritanga at school although I sporadically participated in kapa haka, learned waiata and slowly put together the puzzle pieces of my whakapapa.

Lynda Williams, Ngāti Ira, Omarumutu Marae

My name is Lynda Williams and I live in Ōpōtiki
Ko Ngāti Rua​ tōku hapū
Ko Omarumutu tōku Marae

We came home from Palmerston North to Ōpōtiki about 18 months ago, because we wanted our kids to be “Connected”, know their roots and the place they’re from. I’ve had to work really hard to find a job in Ōpōtiki and completed some of the Pathways to Work programmes that Whakatōhea run, and now I am employed full time, which is a “Dream come True”.

The employment situation has been much harder for my partner. He’s a hard worker and he’s good at what he does, but there just aren’t the jobs yet. Every season he works in the kiwifruit industry, and he puts in the hours and gets as much overtime as he can. But the work only lasts six months, and after that we’re back to being a one income household.

Mitchell Walker, Ngāti Patumoana, Waiaua Marae

Born in Tauranga and raised in Kirikiriroa, I was privileged to have grown up within a bilingual whanau, with close ties to our Iwi and a strong understanding of Te Ao Māori. I didn’t think much of it during my younger years but in hindsight this environment heavily influenced my outlook on the world and provided me with a strong sense of identity.

We grew up in Ōpōtiki in the early 90’s living on King Street with our parents and grandparents while attending Ōpōtiki Primary School.

Like many kids growing up during this time we have fond memories of playing rugby in bare feet, swimming all day either in the river or the beach, and hours playing with neighbors and friends until sunset. This upbringing is something we both strive to have for our young families and always look forward to holiday time back in Ōpōtiki during the summer time.

Bex Walker, Ngāti Patumoana, Waiaua Marae

Kia ora Whakatōhea whānau. My name is Bex Walker. My family shifted from Canterbury to Ōpōtiki in 1994. Our mother wanted us all to experience life with our whānau. I attended St Joseph’s Primary School and then Ōpōtiki College.

My career began after I was awarded a 33 day scholarship when I was at Ōpōtiki College to attend Outward bound in Anakiwa. I decided the outdoors was meant for me so I completed a 3 year double diploma in Outdoor Education teaching and learning at Aoraki Polytechnic. I then moved to Australia where I worked for the Outdoor Education Group and became a specialist instructor in white water rafting. I managed a rafting company for two summers in British Columbia Canada.

I returned to Australia and not long after joined Victoria Police where I completed a Diploma in Policing. I am now in a specialist role currently at the Highway Patrol unit where my job is to investigate anything to do with Road Policing including all road trauma related incidents.